Uruguay continues to advance in the space race, with the project of a space port to launch rockets and satellites in Rocha as the most promising private initiative in that sense. Ambit consulted with Tlon Space SAthe Argentine company in charge of the project, to know its progress status.
“This is our first project in Uruguay and the objective is to build a set of facilities prepared for the launch, arrival or technical assistance of our launch vehicles or space rockets,” he had explained in this regard. Luis Monsegur, director of operations (COO) of Tlon and the person in charge of the development of the company in Uruguay, to Ámbito, in December of last year.
Currently, the immediate objective is the final presentation before the National Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment (Dinacea) to obtain authorization for the space port on the assigned property, which belongs to the Ministry of Defence. “Our intention is to deliver the document in the coming weeks,” Monsegur confirmed. Company consultants are working on the document in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
2026, the target year
While it is expected that the first launch of a experimental flight takes place during the second half of 2025, 2026 appears on the work map as the target year to begin operate commercially.
This will require the approval of the Dinacea and that the process, with the respective permits, licenses and operation of the spaceport, progresses correctly and without unforeseen events, so that Tlon has the infrastructure necessary to operate. For this, the Argentine company hopes “to be able to start with the port construction during the first quarter of next year,” according to its COO.
At first, the idea is to make one launch per month and then “reach the number of two launches per week within 5 years,” he added.
Meanwhile, the company dedicated to launching into orbit third party satellites moves forward with different international agreements to generate traffic at the spaceport: “They are commercial agreements either understanding agreements that we have been signing with companies and organizations that work with the global ecosystem of manufacturers and operators of smallsats and they are interested in Tlon Space providing them with space access service, enabling the assembly and maintenance of their satellite constellation,” Monsegur assured.
According to studies by international consulting firms such as Euroconsult, Frost & Sullivan and McKinsey, By 2030, between 18,000 and 27,000 small satellites will have been launched into low orbit. Seraphim Capital, For its part, it estimates that by then there will be 100,000 smallsats in orbit.
Why choose Uruguay?
Monsegur was clear when explaining what the attractive that the company found to invest in the country: “We are convinced that the Uruguay It is an optimal possibility to set up our operation due to the competitive and strategic advantages that it presents with respect to most of the countries of South America”, considered.
Among them, he mentioned the country’s ability to protect Tlon Space’s own technology “thanks to its solid state policies that are reflected in its stable legal regulations; and the customs and tax regulations that allow us to guarantee an agile and simple operation regarding the importation of the required supplies and equipment.
The COO also highlighted the experience he has Uruguay in “implementing regulations with agile and simple procedures that may be applied to regulate space activities”; and the incentive policies for the economic development of the coastal departments, “which are aligned with our objectives as a ‘B’ company”.
“It is forming into Uruguay a cluster or business hub oriented to the space activity which will allow us to guarantee local and regional demand for our launch services,” Monsegur finally stated.
Source: Ambito
